1, origin
There are two versions of the origin of running scripts:
(1) According to Zhang Huaiguan's Book End, "Calligraphers were created by Liu Desheng of Yingchuan in the later Han Dynasty, that is, they were called calligraphy because of their small mistakes and simple work." It can be seen from the statement that "running script" is a font transformed from "official script".
(2) According to Wang Sengqian's "Book Title of Ancient Energy", "The book of Zhong You has three bodies: the book of the stone is the strangest; Second, the articles of association, secretary, primary school teacher; On the third day, I wrote a book, and so did the people who heard it. Hedong Weikaizi adopted Zhang Zhifa's method, participated in Kaifa's method, and even drafted it. The draft is an anecdote. " From the facts, running script, also known as running script, was originally developed from the signing of line drawing. Those who hear each other mean to believe.
Running script appeared at the same time as eight-part essay, and its form was very close to eight-part essay and later official script. This is equivalent to changing (chapter) cursive script from official script-from regular script to other branches. In addition to official script, the "regular script" in Huanling period was followed by "eight-part essay", so people thought that running script was another branch of "eight-part essay". In fact, it is the same as other calligraphy styles. It was originally founded as a general mass writer. As long as it is written in other calligraphy, it becomes a running script without official style. It can be seen everywhere in bamboo slips unearthed at the end of Han Dynasty. At the end of Han dynasty, running script was not widely used. It was not until the appearance of Wang Xizhi in Jin Dynasty that it became popular.
Running script into Wang Xizhi's hand perfectly combines practicality and artistry. As a result, the South School calligraphy art with eternal light has emerged and become the most influential school in the history of calligraphy.
2. Writing characteristics
(1) pen function
Running script is a writing style between regular script and cursive script. Write more freely and smoothly, and those close to cursive script are called cursive script; The writing is relatively correct and stable, close to the standard of regular script.
In the process of writing, the movement of brush strokes is obvious in various forms of stippling. This movement of brush strokes often leaves traces of each other between stippling and between words, which is delicate and delicate.
Running script is the quick writing of regular script, and it is the stream of regular script. Through the analysis of several groups of characters in regular script and running script, it is found that when writing in regular script and running script, the writing method of stippling and the principles to be followed when using the pen are consistent, such as centering, laying the pen, pushing the main body and hiding the front, while running script is relatively stretched and smooth.
Running script pen has the following characteristics:
[1] stippling is mostly written by exposing the front to paper;
[2] Replace flatness with side surface;
[3] Replace complex stippling with simple strokes;
[4] Strengthen the echo of stippling by hooking, picking and tying;
[5] replace the square fold with a round turn;
(2) Structural features
Big and small. That is, each word presents a different size, and there is a pen-to-pen connection of a word. The connection between words is both true and intentional, and there is a connection between them.
The combination of recovery and release. Generally short-term collection, long-term release; Back and front, side and front; Most of them are left hand, right hand, upper right hand and lower left hand, but they can also be converted to each other. Left-handed and right-handed, top-handed and bottom-handed are not excluded.
Dense and decent. Generally, it is dense on the top and sparse on the bottom, dense on the left and sparse on the right, and dense on the inside and sparse on the outside. The middle palace is compact, the white space in the box is as small as possible, and the white space of the circled strokes is as small as possible. On the layout, the word spacing is tight, the line spacing is wide, vigorous and powerful, and the colors are bright.
Light and shade blend together. Running script writing should be easy, lively and fast, and master the combination of illness and stagnation, movement and static. The ink color arrangement should be strong at the beginning and dry at the end. The lines are long and thin, short and thick, moderate in thickness and alternating in depth. It's similar to cursive, but it's not so grassy.
3. Development and characteristics
Running script is not as scribbled as cursive script, between cursive script and regular script, and it is not as straight as regular script.
Running script is a writing style after cursive script and regular script. In short, it is a small change on the basis of regular script, which is very simple to write, so it is popular with regular script. Running script is a writing style between cursive script and regular script, which is not as difficult to write and recognize as cursive script, nor as rigorous and dignified as regular script. So the ancients said it was "not true and not grass" It is characterized by adopting a certain cursive method, partially simplifying the strokes of regular script, changing the stroke shape of regular script and cursing the structure of regular script. In short, it is more fluent, straightforward and chic than regular script, and easier to recognize and write than cursive script. Running script is a new writing style accompanied by regular script at the end of Han Dynasty, but it was not widely used at that time. It was not until the appearance of Wang Xizhi in Jin Dynasty that it became popular.
There are two versions of the origin of running script. One is written in the introduction of Shu Duan Xing Shu, and the other is according to the calligrapher's notes, the words "Qing" and "Yang" in Mi Fei's He Qing Tie are connected, both of which are "single-sided", but they are handled in different ways: the word "Qing" is divided into three parts: left, middle and right, and is divided into two parts. "Calligraphers were created by Liu Desheng of Yingchuan in the later Han Dynasty, that is, books are small and simple, so they are called a book." It can be seen that the "running script" is transformed from the "official script". There is also a saying that according to Wang Sengqian's "Gu Nengshu Renming", "Zhong You's book has three bodies: the book with inscriptions is the best; Second, the articles of association, secretary, primary school teacher; On the third day, I wrote a book, and so did the people who heard it. Hedong Weikaizi adopted Zhang Zhifa's method, participated in Kaifa's method, and even drafted it. The draft is also a book. " Therefore, running script is also called running script. It was originally developed from drawing lines and signing contracts. When people hear each other, it means pens, letters and the like.
Judging from the emergence, formation and evolution of running script, running script has not become an independent "running method" This is related to various fonts such as seal script, official script, cursive script and official script, unlike regular script. Running script is not like cursive script, it is clear and easy to distinguish.
First of all, running script is convenient to write: running script simplifies the part of regular script, or omits stippling or merges lines. For example, next to the word "Hua", it turns out that seven paintings were written in regular script, and only two paintings were written in running script. Secondly, the brushwork is smooth: increase the hook knot. Writing regular script requires clear strokes, one stroke at a time, and with the tick marks between strokes, it looks smooth and lively; Flexible use of pen: the running script is more flexible than regular script, and the same stippling writing method is not limited. For example, the word "ge" is written horizontally, so you can circle it from the right and write another Gou; You can also write Gogou directly from the right. There are many changes in posture: because the running script is between regular script and cursive script, it has a wide range of activities and a variety of changes in a word. For example, the four prefixes of the word "Hua" are written neatly and orderly, with similarities and differences, diverse and unified, and interesting. Don't use grass symbols or less, and keep the recognizable structure of regular characters. When writing, you can write simply, quickly and easily. So it is used in drafts, letters, essays, etc. To facilitate the circulation and exchange of written information. People all over the world pay special attention to this font when learning calligraphy, which is also the most practical font in daily life. Therefore, Xiang Mu's Book of Elegant Words concludes: "Truth is the foundation of the script, and it is not easy for the author to make it quickly; The grass is simple and vertical, so it is difficult for people to see it. It's not really grass. It's embarrassing. "Wang Xizhi's Preface to Lanting, the most famous running script, is a draft, but it can be used as a representative of running script. Its pen is clever and vivid, its structure is rich and colorful, and its characters are basically independent. In the Tang Dynasty, he was favored by Emperor Taizong. The testamentary edict was originally buried with him, but now only a copy exists.
Running script has the characteristics of being close to other books. Therefore, Sun's Book Score says: "When the trend becomes timely, it is important to write a book." Running script sprouted in Han Dynasty and took place in Wei and Jin Dynasties. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, an artistic and exemplary running script style represented by the two kings was formed. Running script is divided into two levels: true line and cursive script. True line is a kind of regular running script similar to the true version. According to the Tang Dynasty's Book Theory: "Fu's calligraphy is neither grass nor true, but between Ji and Meng. It is really called' true', and the grass is called' walking grass'. " "True line" is also called "bright line" and "bright line". Wang Xizhi is the first person who is "true" in the world. And cursive script: relatively mobile, close to cursive script. Also known as "walking grass". However, "running grass" and "running grass" are difficult to subdivide and are often used to mix. Su Dongpo in the Song Dynasty said, "True calligraphy is like a stand, running script is like a line, and cursive script is like a line." The "line" of running script is a walking scheme. In fact, there is no strict specification for running script, which can be neat or anecdote. The Ming Dynasty project "Elegant Words of Calligraphy" stated as follows: "Those who are both true and careless are true; Those who are as true as grass, walk grass. " In Qing Dynasty, Liu Xizai also made some amendments, saying, "Running script has true lines and cursive lines. The true line is close to the truth, vertical to the truth, and the grass line is close to the grass and gathers in the grass. " Among them, De Tieshi is a typical cursive style, in which there are often cursive knots, and every time there is a continuous connection between words, the style is unrestrained.
The evolution of fonts is based on practicality, striving for Fang Bi to be quick, time-saving and labor-saving. However, the excessive simplicity of cursive script is hard to understand, which reduces its practicability and gives them a chance to make a name for themselves. It can be said that each new font is a step closer to this direction than the old font. It is indeed easier to write running script than cursive script (chapter) and eight-point script, and it is closer to regular script and easier to identify, so this font is still in use today and is also the most widely used one. This is the reason why new fonts between cursive and regular script are popular. This new popular font is running script. The main purpose of writing is to use, and aesthetics is incidental.
4, creative requirements
First of all, we must understand the requirements of appreciation or creation. A good calligraphy work has three criteria, namely, mastering principles and methods, vigorous brushwork and graceful posture. The ancients said, "Innovation in tradition is clever in statutes." "Charm comes first, followed by form and quality." A good calligraphy work strives to achieve the beauty of lines, structure, composition, pen and ink and charm.
Secondly, we should copy carefully, learn to use the pen correctly and dare to break through. Copying should choose the wonderful traces of celebrities, and experience the ancient people's mind, rhythm and charm from reading the inscriptions. Get it from your heart and give it to your hand. The main post should be read and presented repeatedly, mainly to solve the problems of brushwork, pen use and structure. Inheritance is the important foundation of innovation, and innovation is the necessary development of inheritance. From "going in" to "coming out", from modeling to spirit, a distinctive personal style is formed. The so-called "picking flowers to make honey".
Thirdly, it should be fully brewed before creation. On the one hand, reference is more important to have a clear understanding of the theme, genre and expression. We should seriously consider the structure of each word and try not to have similar words or strokes; Careful arrangement of the composition can make a sample draft in advance, but you can't be bound by it when writing; Pay attention to the rhythm and strength when lifting a pen. The so-called "vigorous and graceful, vigorous and graceful" by predecessors is the concrete embodiment of the pen method.
5. What's the price of running script?
In the Southern Song Dynasty, Jiang Kui's "Continued Book Spectrum Running Script" said: "After tasting Yi Kao Wei, today's running script is different from cursive script. The big rate becomes true, so it is easy to swing. Grass comes from chapters,' deeds come from truth, although calligraphy is famous, each has its own style, and it is not far from suffering to restore the sages of the Jin Dynasty.' Preface to Lanting and The Right Army Post are the first, followed by Xie Anshi and Daling, followed by Yan, Liu, Su and Mi, which are also equivalent in later generations. It is important to value the old pen, and there are few mistakes, which can also be reflected. What is more expensive is the separation of grain and fiber, the connection of blood, the old bones and muscles, the scattered Shen Feng, the prepared posture, the true attitude, the attitude of doing things and the careless attitude. Be sure to study extensively, and you can learn both. "
Note: The running script must be dynamic. Method 1: increase the inclination of horizontal and vertical painting to enhance the dynamic situation of the whole word; Dump two square characters into the shape of material edge to enhance the dynamic situation of characters from dangerous potential; Third, adopt the method of relying on music and meaning to make the font vivid, stable and easy to open; Fourthly, the contrast between the virtual and the real is adopted to make the fonts dynamically balanced. In addition, we should also pay attention to the size of words, white cloth, reality, thickness, dry and wet changes and their pen characteristics, so that the running script written will naturally have momentum. At the same time, due to the fast pace of running script, we should pay special attention to the composure and toughness of writing, draw vertically, grasp, unfold and maintain. Don't slip to make the nib thin and empty, especially for writing long-coiled pens with needles. When closing the pen, it should be sharp and full, full of strength and surplus potential, inexhaustible, and cover the paper from beginning to end, making the virtual tip wander.